Process for the production of dihydroxybenzenes

ABSTRACT

The nuclear hydroxylation of phenol with organic solutions of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst is carried out in improved manner by employing both (1) a special, practically water free solution of hydrogen peroxide in an organic solvent which does not form an azeotrope with water or whose highest azeotrope with water, boil near or above the boiling point of hydrogen peroxide, and (2) employing as a catalyst XO 2  where X is sulfur, selenium, or tellurium. Besides increasing the yield and the ability to carry out the reaction in a simpler manner when selenium dioxide is employed as a catalyst, there can also be controlled the ortho-para ratio, respectively, the ortho-ortho ratio of the product.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.588,847, filed Mar. 12, 1984.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to the production of dihydroxybenzenes as wellas their monoethers by nuclear hydroxylation of the correspondingphenols or phenyl ethers with hydrogen peroxide.

Important dihydroxybenzenes are derivatives of phenol, the napthols, andalso derivatives of anthracene and phenanthrene. They are employed inthe production of dyestuffs, in the production of synthetic resins, inphotography, and for the production of important plant protectives.Thus, e.g., hydroquinone, the para hydroxylation product of phenol isused as a photo chemical; pyrocatechol, the corresponding ortho productfor plant protection. For various areas of use, such as, e.g., asantioxidants, the dihydroxyphenols are mutually useful.

Their production, therefore, has long been the object of thoroughinvestigations. The hydroxylation has been carried out both withhydrogen peroxide itself as well as with hydroperoxides, peroxides, oreven per acids such as, e.g., performic acid or peracetic acid.

Nevertheless, hydrogen peroxide was preferred since it is the mostreadily available and since with percarboxylic acids, hydroperoxides andperoxides side reactions occur (European published application No.0027593).

There was always present a catalyst in these hydroxylations. Thiscatalyst can be a metalloid such as sulfur, selenium, tellurium,phosphorus, arsenic, or antimony in elemental form (German OS 2348957)or there can be used boron compounds (German Pat. No. 1543830).

Various processes operate with transition elements in the form of theirions (German OS 2162552), especially with iron ions (German OS 2162589or German Pat. No. 2407398) or cobalt ions (German AS 2341743), or evenwith the corresponding oxides (Milas U.S. Pat. No. 2,395,638).

Besides, there are employed strong acids such as sulfuric acid, sulfonicacids (German OS 2138735, German AS 2410742, German AS 2410758, GermanAS 2462967), or a mixture of sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid (GermanOS 2138735), there are also mentioned in the last named publishedapplication organic acids such as, inter alia, trichloroacetic acid ortartaric acid.

The already mentioned percarboxylic acids likewise serve as catalysts(French Pat. No. 1479354). In all of the mentioned catalysts, it is amatter with the catalysts being solid or liquid materials. Hydrogenperoxide, as preferred oxidation agent, for the most part is employed inaqueous solutions of various concentrations up to very highconcentrations which have the danger of explosion; thus, the processaccording to German Pat. No. 2064497 operates with solutions which onlycontain 5 weight % water, but even at this highly concentrated hydrogenperoxide the yield of dihydroxy derivatives was only 70% and was reducedconsiderably corresponding to the dilution of the hydrogen peroxide.

Additionally, in these and also in other processes, the operation mustbe carried out with a very large excess of the phenol to be hydroxylatedin order in general to obtain the above-stated yield. If this excess isreduced, e.g., from 20 moles to 10 moles per mole of hydrogen peroxide,then the yield is reduced drastically despite the higher concentrationof hydrogen peroxide.

However, as is known, this type of excess of a reactant, which must berecycled, requires additional industrial expense; above all in regard tothe size of the apparatus employed.

Since care is always taken to avoid large excesses of one component asfar as possible, there have been attempts to avoid employing aqueoussolutions of hydrogen peroxide.

Thus, different solutions of hydrogen peroxide in organic solvents havealready been used. For example, according to the process of German Pat.No. 2410758, there are preferably employed hydrogen peroxide solutionsin derivatives of phosphoric acid or phosphonic acid, namely in thepresence of a strong acid, such as sulfuric acid (100%) orfluorosulfonic acid.

However, these highly concentrated strong acids have the disadvantagethat their separation from the reaction mixture creates difficulties(German AS 2658943), above all since their concentration in the reactionmixture has a considerable influence on the length of the reaction.

The excess of phenol was indeed reduced somewhat in contrast to this inthe process of German AS 2064497, but this did not outweigh thedisadvantage of the strong acids.

An additional difficulty in the process of German Pat. No. 2410758 inthe working up of the reaction mixture was produced by the presence ofthe water formed after the reaction with hydrogen peroxide.

Since the solvent for hydrogen peroxide employed in part is higherboiling then the phenol employed and this, especially with phenolitself, forms an azeotrope with water whose boiling point is below thatof the organic solvent, it was highly problematic that a trouble-freeseparation of the excess phenols from the reaction mixture could beattained.

Therefore, other ways were tried, first to manage without catalyst,i.e., above all without the strong acids. Since the catalysts above allwere needed for the activation of hydrogen peroxide, the process ofGerman AS 2658943 was operated with organic solutions of peracetic acid.An additional catalyst was not used.

Entirely apart from the fact that the mentioned process presupposes acomplete plant for the production of an organic percarboxylic acid,which first is obtained from hydrogen peroxide and carboxylic acid, andthereupon is produced by extraction of this so-called "equilibrium acid"from its aqueous solution, it has been shown a stated good selectivityand good yield was only possible in the presence of additional peracidstabilizers (German OS 2364181; European OS 0027593).

Using the same hydroxylation agent, but at different reactiontemperatures, there occurs practically no change in the selectivity, seeTable 1 of German Pat. No. 2364181.

Also, the addition of specific, chelate complex forming materials doesnot produce a remedy (German Pat. No. 2364181).

Likewise, changes of the reaction time have no influence on theselectivity (European OS 0027593).

From what has been said above, there is no known process either in theuse of hydrogen peroxide itself or in the form of its per compounds,especially its percarboxylic acids, in spite of various additives ascatalysts or stabilizers, which makes possible in a specific system onthe one hand satisfactory yields and on the other hand also a regulationof the ratio of ortho to para compounds or of ortho compounds to eachother, as they occur in the substituted phenols obtained in thehydroxylation. In a given system, whose essential parameters were theparticular hydroxylation agent and the particular catalyst,respectively, the particular catalysts, the selectivity represents aspecific factor.

Since the ortho and para compounds or the ortho compound together asisomers are not identical in their properties and, therefore, indeed inpart find different industrial uses, it became desirable to be able toinfluence the selectivity in the production of these two isomrs withoutgreat industrial expense, i.e., above all in a still further shifting ofthe equilibrium in favor of one of the two isomers, especially, e.g., ofpyrocatechol, or e.g., of 4-methyl-pyrocatechol. Thereby, it isessential that the predetermined parameters of a system must not bechanged.

The purpose of the invention, therefore, is to carry out the nuclearhydroxylation of phenol and substituted phenols or their ethers withhydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst in an industriallysimpler manner and with very good yields.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has now been found that this problem can be solved by employing anorganic solution of hydrogen peroxide if the reaction is carried out inthe presence of a catalyst of the formula XO₂ where X is sulfur,selenium, or tellurium and with a solution of hydrogen peroxide whichhas at most 1 wt. % of water and which preferably has a water contentbelow 0.5 weight %, e.g., 0.1 weight %, and which is produced with anorganic solvent which does not form an azeotrope with water or forms anazeotrope with water, which azeotrope has a boiling point near or abovethe boiling point of hydrogen peroxide, referred to normal pressure.

As catalysts, there are especially suited sulfur dioxide and seleniumdioxide.

Sulfur dioxide can be employed both in the gaseous condition and in anydesired solvent. This solvent should not enter into any disturbingreactions with hydrogen peroxide or sulfur dioxide.

Thus, there can be employed dialkyl ethers, e.g., diisopropyl ether,methyl tert. butyl ether, diisobutyl ether, esters of phosphoric acid orphosphonic acid, e.g., trioctyl phosphate, tributyl phosphate, diethylmethanephosphonate, dibutyl ethane phosphonate, alkyl or cycloalkylesters of saturated aliphatic carboxylic acids which contain 4-8 carbonatoms, e.g., alkyl alkanoates.

Especially suitable esters are those of acetic acid and propionic acid,above all n-propyl acetate or isopropyl acetate.

Other suitable esters include ethyl acetate, hexyl acetate,, butylacetate, sec. butyl acetate, amyl acetate, cyclohexyl acetate,cyclopentyl acetate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, propylpropionate, isopropyl propionate, butyl propionate, methyl butyrate,ethyl butyrate, n-propyl butyrate, ethyl valerate, ethyl hexanoate.

The concentration depends on the solubility of SO₂ in the solvent.Generally, it is between 0.1 and 50, preferably 1 to 10 weight %.However, it is favorable to employ sulfur dioxide as a solution in oneof the above described carboxylic acid esters. Sulfur dioxide is used invery small amounts, i.e., in amount of 0.0001 to 0.1 mole, preferablyfrom 0.0005 to 0.01 mole based on 1 mole of hydrogen peroxide, above allcompared with hydroxylations catalyzed by protonic acids on the acidside.

The reaction generally occurs at 20° to 200° C., preferably at atemperature of 40° to 180° C.

The phenols employed for the nuclear hydroxylation are, in addition tophenol itself, substituted phenols as well as of phenol monethers. Thus,there can be hydroxylated alkyl derivatives of phenol, e.g.,2-chlorophenol, 3-chlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, 2-fluorophenol,3-fluorophenol, 4-fluorophenol, 4-carbomethoxyphenol, 2-methylphenol,3-methylphenol, 4-methylphenol, 4-cyclohexylphenol, 2-cyclohexylphenol,4-phenylphenol, 3-phenylphenol, 2-phenylphenol, 4-ethylphenol,3-ethylphenol, 2-ethylphenol, 2-isopropylphenol, 3-isopropylphenol,4-isopropylphenol, 4-tert.-butylphenol, phenylmethylether,4-chlorophenylmethylether, 3-chlorophenylmethylether,2-chlorophenylmethylether, 4'-methylphenylmethylether,3'-methylphenylmethylether, 4-methoxy-1-phenylbenzene,ethyl-phenylether, isopropylphenylether, isopropyl-4'-methylphenylether,1-hydroxynaphthaline, 2-hydroxynaphthaline, 1-methoxynaphthaline,1-hydroxy-2-methylnaphthaline, 1-hydroxy-4-methylnaphthaline,2-hydroxy-1-methylnaphthaline, 2-hydroxy-6-methylnaphthaline,1-hydroxy-4-isopropylnaphthaline, 1-hydroxy-4-tert.-butyl-naphthaline,1-hydroxy-6-phenylnaphthaline, 1-hydroxy-6-methoxynaphthaline,isopropyl-1-naphthylether, isopropyl-2-naphthylether,phenyl-1-naphthylether, phenyl-2-naphthylether, 1-hydroxyanthracene,1-methoxyanthracene, 2-hydroxyanthracene, 2-methoxyanthracene,1-hydroxyphenanthrene, 3-hydroxyphenanthrene, 9-methoxyphenanthrene,3-methoxyphenanthrene, 1-methoxyphenanthrene.

Sulfur dioxide as a catalyst has no significant influence on the ratioof ortho to para compounds, respectively of ortho compounds to eachother, as they are obtained in the hydroxylated phenols.

It has now been discovered that the abovementioned ratio can beinfluenced by employing selenium dioxide as catalyst. Selenium dioxideis used in solid form, preferably in powder form, in an amount of 0.0001to 0.5 mole, preferably from 0.0005 to 0.2 mole, based on 1 mole ofhydrogen peroxide. It can also be used dissolved in solution. Thereaction temperature is between 40° and 200° C., preferably between 40°and 170° C.

The pressure is not critical for the reaction. Generally, the reactionis carried out at normal pressure. A slight superatmospheric pressure upto about 2 bar is not unfavorable.

The use of selenium dioxide as catalyst makes it possible to control theortho to para compound, respectively the ratios of two ortho compoundsto each other, namely using one and the same reaction system. This wascompletely unexpected. For example, the theoretical ratio of ortho topara product in the hydroxylation of phenol is at about 2:1. The ratioobtained according to the state of the art now is generally between thevalues of nearly 1:1 to about 3.5:1, and it must be emphasized that thebreadth of deviation of one of the mentioned values in a specific systemwas very small and could not be pushed as desired in favor of one or theother of the isomers.

Through the process of the invention, it is now possible to obtainratios of ortho to para product of approximately 5:1 to 1:1.

If the para position to the OH group is occupied by a substituent, asfor example a methyl group, then the new hydroxyl group can enter themolecule at one time ortho to the OH-group, on the other hand to the CH₃group. The resulting products then are pyrocatechol or resorcinolsubstituted in the 4-position.

It is possible through the process of the invention to produce ratios ofthe two ortho hydroxylation products from about 5:1 to over 80:1.

This type of regulation of the two isomeric structures was not knownpreviously. While selenium dioxide, as stated, is preferably employed inpowdered form, with sulfur dioxide in addition to the gaseous form, ithas proven very suitable especially to employ freshly preparedsolutions.

The hydrogen peroxide solutions in high boiling solvents whose watercontent at most is 1 weight %, preferably 0.5 weight % used according tothe invention are produced according to the process of German patentapplication P.3308740.7 (and related Drauz U.S. application Ser. No.510,162 filed July 1, 1983, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference and relied upon).

It is a matter of a solvent which either does not form an azeotrope withwater or only forms an azeotrope with water which boils near or abovethe boiling point of hydrogen peroxide.

Among these solvents are phosphorus compounds of the formula ##STR1##wherein X, Y, and Z stand for an 0-atom or a N-(C₁ -C₈)-alkyl group orfor a N-(C₄ -C₇)-cycloalkyl group, n, m, and p are each 0 or 1, R₁, R₂,and R₃ are straight or branched C₁ -C₈ alkyl or C₄ -C₆ cycloalkyl groupswhich in a given case can be substituted by halogen (e.g., chlorine,bromine, or fluorine), hydroxyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, -CN, or phenyl groups.Typical examples of such groups and compounds containing such groups areset forth in German Pat. No. 2038319 on col. 3, line 50, to col. 4, line63, and col. 8, line 58, to col. 13, line 58. The entire disclosure ofGerman Pat. No. 2038319 is incorporated by reference.

Above all, there are suited trialkyl phosphates having C₁ -C₈ -alkylgroups for the production of organic solutions of hydrogen peroxideaccording to the invention. Illustrative of such phosphates aretrimethyl phosphate, triethyl phosphate, methyl diethyl phosphate,tributyl phosphate, tripropyl phosphate, triisopropyl phosphate,triisobutyl phosphate, tri sec. butyl phosphate, triamyl phosphate,trihexyl phosphate, trioctyl phosphate, tri 2-ethylhexyl phosphate. Thepreferred phosphate are triethyl phosphate and tributyl phosphate.

Also, there are outstandingly suited according to the invention estersof aromatic carboxylic acids having the structural formula ##STR2##where R₄ is the group CH₃, C₂ H₅, n-C₃ H₇, i-C₃ H₇, n-C₄ H₉, i-C₄ H₉,tert. C₄ H₉ sec. C₄ H₉ (i.e., C₁ to C₄ alkyl), R₅ and R₆ aresubstituents which are inert to hydrogen peroxide such as H, halogen,e.g., Cl, F, or Br, alkyl such as R₄, CH₃ O, C₂ H₅ O, COOR₇ (R₇ is asdefined as for R₄) and R₅ and R₆ can be in any position in relation tothe COOR₄ group. Thus, there have proven particularly favorable phthalicacid esters, most preferably diethyl phthalate. Other esters includedimethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, di-t-butylphthalate, diisopropyl phthalate, dipropyl phthalate, dimethylterephthalate, diethyl terephthalate, diethyl isophthalate, methylbenzoate, ethyl benzoate, diethyl 4-chlorophthalate, diethyl4-fluorophthalate, dimethyl 4-methyl phthalate, diethyl 4-butylphthalate, 2-methoxy methyl benzoate, 4-methoxy ethyl benzoate, 2-ethoxyethyl benzoate, trimethyl trimellitate, triethyl trimellitate.

Furthermore, there can be used carboxylic acid amides or lactams of thegeneral formula ##STR3## wherein R₈ is a straight chain or branched C₁-C₄ alkyl group, which in a given case can be substituted by halogen,e.g., chlorine, bromine, or fluorine, or a hydroxyl group and o is anumber from 2 to 5.

Very good results here have been produced with N-alkyl pyrrolidoneshaving a C₁ -C₄ alkyl group, e.g., N-methyl pyrrolidone,N-ethylpyrrolidone, N-propyl pyrrolidone, N-butyl pyrrolidone, andN-sec. butyl pyrrolidone. Especially preferred is N-methyl pyrrolidone.

Further typical examples of such groups and compounds containing suchgroups are set forth in German Pat. No. 2038320 on col. 3, line 19 tocol. 4, line 12. As stated above, the entire disclosure of German Pat.No. 2038320 is incorporated by reference.

It has also been found that there can be used tetra substituted ureas ofthe formula ##STR4## wherein R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, and R₁₂ are C₁ to C₆ alkylgroups, whereby ureas in which R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, and R₁₂ are the same arepreferably used.

Particularly good are tetramethyl urea, tetraethyl urea, and tetrabutylurea. Other illustrative tetrasubstituted ureas include tetrapropylurea, tetraisopropyl urea, tetra sec. butyl urea, tetrahexyl urea,dimethyl diethyl urea.

Hydrogen peroxide can be present in the invention in any desiredconcentrated aqueous solution, best suited are solutions having 3 to 90weight % hydrogen peroxide, preferably 30-85 weight %.

As stabilizers for the hydrogen peroxide, there can be used any of thecustomary ones, e.g., as mentioned in Ullmann, Enzyklopadie dertechnischen Chemie, Vol. 17, 4th edition, page 709.

When employing selenium dioxide as a catalyst in the process of theinvention, phenol or substituted phenol or phenol ether is used inexcess above the equivalent amount of hydrogen peroxide. There hasproven as favorable an excess of 3 to 15 moles on 1 mole of hydrogenperoxide.

When sulfur dioxide is used as a catalyst, the molar ratio of phenol orthe above-mentioned phenol derivatives to 1 mole of hydrogen peroxide is5 to 20:1, preferably 5 to 15:1, above all 10 moles of phenol or phenolderivative to 1 mole of hydrogen peroxide.

Because of the very small amount of catalyst, there is usually no needto separate off the catalyst. This is a great advantage of the processof the invention.

Furthermore, because of the short reaction time when using sulfurdioxide as the catalyst, the volume-time-yield is very favorable. Also,there is avoided the possible danger of decompositions.

When employing selenium dioxide, the ratio of isomers can be controlledin a wide range, indeed in the same system without changes in material,as, e.g., use of a different catalyst or different reaction medium. Theratio of isomers can be changed by the single factor of time.

Unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages are by weight.

The process can comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of thestated steps with the recited materials.

The invention is explained in more detail in connection with thefollowing examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE 1

54.7 grams (0.5 mole) of p-cresol were heated to 94° C. There were addedto the stirred melt 0.73 gram of a 1.3 weight % solution of sulfurdioxide in n-propyl acetate and subsequently 7.17 grams of a 23.7 weight% water-free solution of hydrogen peroxide in triethyl phosphate (0.05mole). The temperature in the reaction solution increased after that to134° C. After the exotherm died down, there was determined after 10minutes a hydrogen peroxide reaction of 95.3%. The reaction mixture thencontained 3.52 grams (56.7 mmoles) of 4-methylpyrocatechol, and 0.64grams (10.3 mmoles) of 4-methylresorcinol, which corresponds to a totalyield of dihydroxybenzenes of 70.3% based on the hydrogen peroxidereacted.

EXAMPLE 2

94.1 grams (1.0 mole) of phenol were heated to 100° C. There were addedto the stirred melt 0.4 grams of a 4.8 weight % solution of sulfurdioxide in isopropyl acetate and subsequently 13.9 grams of a 24.45weight % water-free solution of hydrogen peroxide in triethyl phosphate(0.1 mole). The temperature in the reaction solution increased afterthat to 135° C. After the exotherm died down, there was ascertainedafter twenty minutes a hydrogen peroxide reaction of 91.4%. The reactionmixture then contained 5.20 grams (47.2 mmoles) of pyrocatechol, and2.54 grams (23.1 mmoles) of hydroquinone, which corresponds to a totalyield of dihydroxybenzenes of 76.9%, based on the H₂ O₂ reacted.

EXAMPLE 3

94.1 grams (1.0 mole) of phenol were heated to 100° C. There were addedto the stirred melt 0.4 gram of a 4.85 weight % solution of sulfurdioxide in isopropyl acetate and subsequently 16.04 grams of a 21.19weight % water-free solution of hydrogen peroxide in diethyl phthalate(0.1 mole). The temperature in the reaction mixture increased to 147° C.After the exotherm died down, after five minutes there was established ahydrogen peroxide reaction of 96.03%. The reaction mixture thencontained 2.55 grams (23.2 mmoles) of hydroquinone and 5.54 grams (50.3mmoles) of pyrocatechol, which corresponds to a total yield ofdihydroxybenzenes of 76.5%, based on the hydrogen peroxide reacted.

EXAMPLE 4

75.1 grams (0.5 mole) of 4-tert. butyl phenol were heated to 102° C.There were added to the stirred melt 0.73 gram of a 1.3 weight %solution of sulfur dioxide in isopropyl acetate. There were subsequentlyadded 8.02 grams of a 21.19 weight % water-free solution of hydrogenperoxide (0.05 mole) in diethyl phthalate. The temperature increased to132° C. After the exotherm died down, there was determined after twentyminutes a hydrogen peroxide reaction of 97.5%. The reaction mixture thencontained 7.01 grams (42.2 mmoles) of t-butylpyrocatechol, whichcorresponds to a yield of 86.6% based on the hydrogen peroxide reacted.

EXAMPLE 5

94.1 grams (1.0 mole) of phenol were heated to 110° C. There were addedto the stirred melt 0.033 gram (0.0003 mole) selenium dioxide and 16.04grams of 21.19 weight % solution of hydrogen peroxide (0.1 mole) indiethyl phthalate. The temperature in the reaction solution increased toa maximum of 154° C. After five minutes, there was determined a hydrogenperoxide reaction of 93.4%. The reaction mixture then contained 6.53grams (59.3 mmoles) of pyrocatechol and 1.41 grams (12.8 mmoles) ofhydroquinone, which corresponds to a total yield of dihydroxybenzenes of77.2% based on the hydrogen peroxide reacted.

Here after a shorter reaction time there was obtained a higher portionof pyrocatechol to hydroquinone in the ratio 4.63:1.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for the production of a nuclearhydroxylated product comprising reacting phenol per se, chlorophenol,fluorophenol, 1 to 4 carbon alkyphenol, carbomethoxyphenol,cyclohexyphenol, phenylphenol or naphthol, phenyl naphthyl ether,methoxyanthracene, methoxyphenanthrene, hydroxynaphthalene, hydroxy 1 to4 carbon alkyl naphthalene, hydroxyanthracene, or hydroxyphenanthrenewith hydrogen peroxide in a high boiling organic solvent having not over1 weight % of water, which organic solvent does not form an azeotropewith water that boils near or above the boiling point of hydrogenperoxide at normal pressure, said solvent having the following formula:##STR5## wherein X, Y, and Z are 0, a N-(C₁ -C₈)-alkyl group or a N-(VC₄-C₇)-cycloalkyl group, n, m, and p are each 0 or 1, R₁, R₂, and R₃ areC₁ -C₈ alkyl or C₄ -C₆ -cycloalkyl or such an alkyl or cycloalkyl groupsubstituted by halogen, hydroxyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, -CN, or phenyl,##STR6## wherein R₄ is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R₅and R₆ are H, Cl, F, Br, alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, methoxy,ethoxy, or COOR₇ where R₇ is alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, ##STR7##wherein R₈ is alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or such a group substitutedby halogen, hydroxy, or a C₁ to C₃ alkyl group and o is a number from 2to 5, or ##STR8## and using a catalyst of the formula XO₂ wherein X issulfur, selenium or tellurium.
 2. A process according to claim 1 whereinthe solvent is one which forms an azeotrope with water that boils abovethe boiling point of hydrogen peroxide.
 3. A process according to claim1 wherein the solvent contains less than 0.5 weight % of water.
 4. Aprocess according to claim 1 wherein the catalyst is sulfur dioxide. 5.A process according to claim 4 wherein the sulfur dioxide is employed ingaseous form.
 6. A process according to claim 4 wherein the sulfurdioxide is employed dissolved in organic solvent which with boils belowthe high boiling organic solvent, and which lower boiling organicsolvent also forms an azeotrope with water that boils below theazeotrope of the high boiling organic solvent with water.
 7. A processaccording to claim 4 wherein the sulfur dioxide is used in an amount of0.0001 to 0.1 mole per mole of hydrogen peroxide.
 8. A process accordingto claim 7 wherein the solvent contains less than 0.5 weight % of water.9. A process according to claim 8 wherein the sulfur dioxide is used inan amount of 0.0005 to 0.01 mole per mole of hydrogen peroxide.
 10. Aprocess according to claim 1 wherein the catalyst is selenium dioxide.11. A process according to claim 10 wherein the selenium dioxide is usedin an amount of 0.0001 to 0.5 mole per mole of hydrogen peroxide.
 12. Aprocess according to claim 11 wherein the selenium dioxide is used in anamount of 0.0005 to 0.2 mole per mole of hydrogen peroxide.
 13. Aprocess according to claim 1 wherein the high boiling organic solventhas the formula ##STR9## wherein X, Y, and Z are 0, a N-(C₁ -C₈)-alkylgroup or a N-(C₄ -C₇)-cycloalkyl group, n, m, and p are each 0 or 1, R₁,R₂, and R₃ are C₁ -C₈ alkyl or C₄ -C₆ -cycloalkyl or such an alkyl orcycloalkyl group substituted by halogen, hydroxyl, C₁ -C₄ -alkoxy, -CN,or phenol.
 14. A process according to claim 13 wherein the high boilingsolvent is a trialkyl phosphate having 1 to 8 carbon atoms in each alkylgroup.
 15. A process according to claim 14 wherein the phosphate istriethyl phosphate or trioctyl phosphate.
 16. A process according toclaim 13 wherein the catalyst is sulfur dioxide.
 17. A process accordingto claim 16 wherein the sulfur dioxide is used in an amount of 0.0001 to0.1 mole per mole of hydrogen peroxide.
 18. A process according to claim13 wherein the catalyst is selenium dioxide.
 19. A process according toclaim 18 wherein the selenium dioxide is used in an amount of 0.0001 to0.5 mole per mole of hydrogen peroxide.
 20. A process according to claim1 wherein the high boiling solvent has the formula: ##STR10## R₄ is analkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R₅ and R₆ are H, Cl, F, Br,alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
 21. A process according to claim 20wherein the high boiling solvent is an ester of phthalic acid.
 22. Aprocess according to claim 21 wherein the high boiling solvent isdiethyl phthalate.
 23. A process according to claim 20 wherein thecatalyst is sulfur dioxide.
 24. A process according to claim 23 whereinthe sulfur dioxide is used in an amount of 0.0001 to 0.1 mole per moleof hydrogen peroxide.
 25. A process according to claim 20 wherein thecatalyst is selenium dioxide.
 26. A process according to claim 25wherein the selenium dioxide is used in an amount of 0.0001 to 0.5 moleper mole of hydrogen peroxide.
 27. A process according to claim 1wherein the high boiling solvent has the formula ##STR11## wherein R₈ isalkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or such a group substituted by halogen,hydoxy, or a C₁ to C₃ alkyl group and o is a number from 2 to
 5. 28. Aprocess according to claim 27 wherein the high boiling solvent is anN-alkylpyrrolidone having 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group.
 29. Aprocess according to claim 28 wherein the N-alkylpyrrolidone isN-methylpyrrolidone.
 30. A process according to claim 27 wherein thecatalyst is sulfur dioxide.
 31. A process according to claim 30 whereinthe sulfur dioxide is used in an amount of 0.0001 to 0.1 mole per moleof hydrogen peroxide.
 32. A process according to claim 27 wherein thecatalyst is selenium dioxide.
 33. A process according to claim 32wherein the selenium dioxide is used in an amount of 0.0001 to 0.5 moleper mole of hydrogen peroxide.
 34. A process according to claim 1wherein the high boiling solvent is a tetraalkyl substituted urea of theformula ##STR12## wherein R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, and R₁₂ are alkyl of 1 to 6carbon atoms.
 35. A process according to claim 34 wherein R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁,and R₁₂ are the same.
 36. A process according to claim 35 wherein thetetraalkyl urea is tetramethyl urea, tetraethyl urea, or tetrabutylurea.
 37. A process according to claim 34 wherein the catalyst is sulfurdioxide.
 38. A process according to claim 37 wherein the sulfur dioxideis used in an amount of 0.0001 to 0.1 mole per mole of hydrogenperoxide.
 39. A process according to claim 34 wherein the catalyst isselenium dioxide.
 40. A process according to claim 39 wherein theselenium dioxide is used in an amount of 0.0001 to 0.5 mole per mole ofhydrogen peroxide.
 41. A process according to claim 1 wherein thetemperature is 40° to 200° C.
 42. A process according to claim 41wherein there is employed phenol per se.